Old County Tops

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Originally Posted by L.F.F.

Does anyone know the rough cut-off time for Scafell Pike? Not doing the race, but was hoping to see some runners coming through if I could get there in time.

Cheers.

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Angle Tarn cutoff is 1pm so I guess the back runners should be on Scafell Pike 45 minutes later?

(I've got the cut-offs committed to memory as we'll be struggling to meet them!)

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Originally Posted by Dynamo Dan

What's the crack with water do people carry most of it round with them? I read the organisers say there might not be any at the checkpoints.....

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Don't know about the checkpoints but with the rain due tomorrow there should be plenty in the streams.

I usually carry a half litre bottle with a Nuun then refill as needed.

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Originally Posted by ydt

The leading teams should be there in about 4 hours (mid-day). ydt

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Originally Posted by Toreador

Angle Tarn cutoff is 1pm so I guess the back runners should be on Scafell Pike 45 minutes later?

(I've got the cut-offs committed to memory as we'll be struggling to meet them!)

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Thanks for that. Might miss it then unfortunately.

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Originally Posted by Dynamo Dan

What's the crack with water do people carry most of it round with them? I read the organisers say there might not be any at the checkpoints.....

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You only need to carry a small bottle and refill it at streams and at the two stops where there has always been water. The last stretch to the Old Man is waterless.

It wasn't waterless last weekend.......or did I take a scenic line!

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Originally Posted by ydt

You only need to carry a small bottle and refill it at streams and at the two stops where there has always been water. The last stretch to the Old Man is waterless.

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Theolneywayisup

It wasn't waterless last weekend.......or did I take a scenic line!

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That's what I was thinking! Don't you follow a stream up almost to the saddle?

For those who have been asking about food on route the following will be available

Wythburn - tea, squash, water, jam butties, malt loaf and possibly flap jack
Cockley Beck - tea, squash, water, butties - cheese, tuna mayo, egg mayo, bananas, fruit cake
Finish - tea, coffee, squash soup, butties, and cake

We'll also try and have someone handing out drinks at Angle Tarn.

Hope this helps and see you all on Saturday

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Originally Posted by Toreador

That's what I was thinking! Don't you follow a stream up almost to the saddle?

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You may (or may not) follow a stream half way up to the saddle but in dry conditions there is no water after that until Bleamoss Beck. ydt

What are these "dry conditions" of which you speak? Are they related to the mythical "drought" of which the papers tell?

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Originally Posted by ydt

You may (or may not) follow a stream half way up to the saddle but in dry conditions there is no water after that until Bleamoss Beck. ydt

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Very cryptic :D

So you're further right on more solid ground :wink:

I'll be pleased if I even get that far without being timed out :)

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Originally Posted by Chips

For those who have been asking about food on route the following will be available

Wythburn - tea, squash, water, jam butties, malt loaf and possibly flap jack
Cockley Beck - tea, squash, water, butties - cheese, tuna mayo, egg mayo, bananas, fruit cake
Finish - tea, coffee, squash soup, butties, and cake

We'll also try and have someone handing out drinks at Angle Tarn.

Hope this helps and see you all on Saturday

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Cheers Chips, that's as good as owt, work done, heading up to Langdale tomorrow for a long weekend, bloody marvellous:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by GregC

LOL :)
It's got to be better than the heat in 2010, which was my first fell race. Have I mentioned that before? ;-)

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Yeah, you did, but I'm still waiting for the first fell race that you do some proper training for.

Anyway, whats are they forecasting today? Let's have a look through the round window...

Has anyone got a spare entry for Saturday please?

I was supposed to be at another event but it is cancelled and have always wanted to do this race. Please feel free to contact me on 07968 814451 if you have, or know anyone who has, a spare entry on Saturday?

Cheers, Paul.

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Originally Posted by MarkL

Yeah, you did, but I'm still waiting for the first fell race that you do some proper training for.

Anyway, whats are they forecasting today? Let's have a look through the round window...

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I've averaged 16 miles a week over the last 6 weeks and done a few long runs of 13 miles.
Hopefully that will be enough.....
Have you ever considered a career in weather forecasting ;-)

Viewing forecast for Saturday, 19th May, 2012 MWIS

Forecast last reviewed on Thursday, 17/05/12 at 07:58

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How Windy?

Easterly, 25 to 35mph, gusts 50mph near major ridges and summits and windy near through some lower cols.
Effect Of Wind?

Buffeting widespread on higher fells, and considerable near and west of major ridges and locally through higher passes.

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How Wet?

Outbreaks of rain
Confidence low: Pockets of rain, or on higher areas sleet or snow grains.

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Cloud on the hills?

Very extensive and low east
Low cloud may well shroud Pennines all day, base lifting from 300 to 550m. Across the Lakes, generally base rising from 450 to 600m eastern fells and 550 to 800m west.
Chance of cloud free Summits?

20%
Sunshine and air clarity?

A few bursts of sunshine west. A haze, and widely foggy on the hills to low levels, particularly Pennines.

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How Cold? (at 750m)

0 to 2C, highest west.

I wonder if that's "confidence low - it might be dry" or "confidence low - waders recommended"

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Originally Posted by PaulBooth

Has anyone got a spare entry for Saturday please?

I was supposed to be at another event but it is cancelled and have always wanted to do this race. Please feel free to contact me on 07968 814451 if you have, or know anyone who has, a spare entry on Saturday?

Cheers, Paul.

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Paul - not quite sure what you mean by "spare entry"
I don't think the race is completely full yet, although getting quite close to it...
or do you mean that you're looking for a partner?

Yes, sorry... I thought it was full. Just checked the site and contacted the race organiser earlier to try and, hopefully, organise a place?

Also on the look-out for anyone whose partner has dropped out and fancies a new running/hobbling partner?

...or hasn't dropped out but wants to do it anyway?

Nice one... got a place and a partner, cheers Chris.

I just need a pair of fully functioning running legs now...

Anyone else fancy a run on Saturday?

My mate has just lost his partner to injury and is looking for a replacement - target time sub 9 hours, done it several times before, any takers?

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Originally Posted by grimmer

Anyone else fancy a run on Saturday?

My mate has just lost his partner to injury and is looking for a replacement - target time sub 9 hours, done it several times before, any takers?

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Late in the day I know but if you're interested call Ben on 07712575840, cheers

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Originally Posted by DazTheSlug

that's not how it looks from last year's results
of 10 pairs that reached AT in 4:40 or over, all 10 were under the CB cut-off by more than they had been at AT

I actually had a very encouraging training run today - 8 hours out around Kinder (inc. 5 ascents) - I felt fitter/stronger/faster than of late

still need a partner though... :rolleyes:

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Daz. I think I know where the confusion has arisen. When I did the event in 2010, the cut-off at AT was 5 hours 30 mins. If you're reading the stuff off the website this has it down as 5 hours, explaining why I thought that CB was the tougher cut-off. I've just spoken to my partner for tomorrow and he reckons that this is a mistake, it's actually 5 Hours 30 mins at AT and if you look at last years results it does show a couple of pairs passing through AT after 5 hours (one a 5:21) suggesting the 5.5 hour time is correct.

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Originally Posted by GregC

Daz. I think I know where the confusion has arisen. When I did the event in 2010, the cut-off at AT was 5 hours 30 mins. If you're reading the stuff off the website this has it down as 5 hours, explaining why I thought that CB was the tougher cut-off. I've just spoken to my partner for tomorrow and he reckons that this is a mistake, it's actually 5 Hours 30 mins at AT and if you look at last years results it does show a couple of pairs passing through AT after 5 hours (one a 5:21) suggesting the 5.5 hour time is correct.

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this is splendid news! :thumbup:

I had actually convinced myself that I could get to AT in 4:55, but it would take the pressure off if I could roll through in 5:10 ish, any slower than that and the CB cut-off does start to look tight ;)

seesyall on the start line :D

(fluo-green Fell Ponies vest for this one)

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Originally Posted by DazTheSlug

this is splendid news! :thumbup:

I had actually convinced myself that I could get to AT in 4:55, but it would take the pressure off if I could roll through in 5:10 ish, any slower than that and the CB cut-off does start to look tight ;)

seesyall on the start line :D

(fluo-green Fell Ponies vest for this one)

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Good luck Daz you know the reasons why i am not with you xx remember all those lines and next year fingers crossed xx

Have a good day... hope the weather's kind... I'll be at work.

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Originally Posted by Amex

Good luck Daz you know the reasons why i am not with you xx remember all those lines and next year fingers crossed xx

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I'll take care of him, Amex. I promise not to wear him out and to leave him in fine fettle and pristine for you next year. The goods shall remain unsullied. Sorry you can't run this year.

It seems that I'll be running in my Fell Ponies colours after all cos that's what the organiser has decided. (I'm quite pleased actually. :))

Some photos from the 2012 Old County Tops.



Huge thanks to The Achille Ratti Climbing Club and everyone for this year's race and another great day out.

Stunning pictures Ian, makes me want to do it even more now..........but will have to wait until next year. Well done BTW.

Ian, great photos, as ever. Many thanks to Chris Lloyd and the rest of the team for their hard work. Yiannis

Don't tell our lass but this is another on my 'to do' list........:rolleyes:
Hope you all had fun!!

Ian, excellent photos, I managed to sneak my fat frame into one too which was a nice surprise.

I'd just ike to echo what everyone else said on the day, what a fantastic effort by ARCC, organisation second to none. Many thanks for a great day and a very pleasurable experience. I shall return next year.

Cracking event again, always do this one evey year and it never fails to impress. My partner bailed at Angle tarn, so i carried on and finished it myself. Shame you don't get the t shirt for finishing solo. Made up for that by eating my own body weight in cake at the finish. Many thanks.

Very well organised event, and a great course.

Thanks to all the organisers.

Rich

One of the best races in the calendar. Another fantastic day out thanks to the Achille Ratti. Huge thankyou to all the organisers and marshalls and for their tireless encouragment and support throughout. Great to see a record turn out of 103 entries. See you next year....

Thanks to the organiser and marshalls for a cracking event, great weather and views during the second half made up for the snow on helvellyn. My partner beasted me to within an inch of my life to get round nearly an hour faster than last year, knackered but happy to be alive:thumbup:

Many thanks to the Achille Ratti, Chris Lloyd and all the other numerous helpers for putting on such a great event! As the advert says this is probably the best event in the fellrunning calendar and certainly one of the toughest!

at the risk of sounding like a broken record:

Many Thanks to Achille Ratti, Chris Lloyd and the army of marshals/helpers - absolutely superb event :thumbup:

Nick & I timed out at Angle Tarn, but on the plus side we were able to see the leaders come in to the finish.

I will definitely be back again to get a completion - not sure about Nick though ;)